Monday, February 14

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES: MY FUNNY VALENTINE

Let's get over the fact that Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday for a second, and move on from the nausea we feel induced by the overabundance of pink and red heart-shaped garlands everywhere and the overconsumption of chalky conversation hearts (seriously, why do those still exist and why has no one thought to change the formula to make them taste less like I'm licking the underside of a granite countertop?). Instead, let's focus on how Valentine's Day is just another day where we can celebrate something wonderful: love.

Tara + Daniel!

When Tara B. first asked me to do this love-themed collaboration with her, I was super excited. I had stumbled on her blog when the sweet man in her life was "just" a boyfriend, and was there to read about the exciting engagement as well as the beautiful wedding that transformed this loving boyfriend-girlfriend duo to a loving husband-wife duo. I actually cried when reading Tara's wedding post -- because I just felt like it was a clear case where love triumphed. These two people who loved each other madly, purely, and dearly could finally celebrate that fact with the world. This type of crystal-clear love makes my heart flutter with hope and light more than any Hugh Grant movie could ever aspire to. Head on over to Little Girl Big Closet to scope out more of this gorgeous couple -- I swear you can see their warmth radiating in every photograph.

For this project, Tara B. had requested a light, humorous write-up on the subject of love and relationships. Perfect! I thought. After all, what is love and relationships if not fun and hilarious? But then I started to write this post and my mind went blank, as it is apt to do when it is most inconvenient. So, rather than stress myself out over a post that is supposed to be light and fun, I thought I'd just take you on a stream-of-consciousness journey of what I know about love with Boyfriend. Take notes. There will be a quiz afterwards.*


Love is one of those things that's universally understood. It transcends language, cultural, religious, age, and gender barriers. No matter who you are, where you came from, and where you are going, you know what love is -- to an extent, anyway. I don't pretend to know everything there is to know about love and relationships, but I do know that it can bring as much heartache as it can bring joy, and it can leave you soaring in the stratosphere as much as it can leave you dredging in the depths. In short, love is infuriatingly perplexing, like aeronautical physics and all six seasons of Lost. But at the same time, love is simple, like the absurd swelling of warm fuzzies I feel whenever Boyfriend surprises me with a kiss on the head or delivers a pick-me-up-off-the-ground hug.

My love with Boyfriend is by and large a simple one. Boyfriend isn't my better half -- he's just a rad dude I enjoy being with. I say this because I'm a whole person all on my own, and so is he, but we made the shared decision that two rad people being together is much more crazy amazing (cramazing?) than one rad person on his or her own.




Boyfriend and I are just two people who enjoy one another's company. We help each other grow and learn. I taught him that there is much more to the joy of eating than just fast food and uh... more fast food. Now he knows that he in addition to Whataburger, he is also a fan of sushi, pho, Cantonese-style Chinese food, and Thai cuisine. On the other hand, he taught me the finer points of Nerf gun wielding. Now I can shoot down a target the size of a Monopoly game piece from across the room with suction darts. Trust me. That's impressive.

We're both still on the journey of growing up and figuring out our lives and ourselves, and let me tell you, that journey is a lot more enjoyable when you've got a rad person to share it with. We've figured out how to do my taxes together, decorate an apartment together, cook many a delicious meal together, and plan trips and careers together. Big things and little things alike are just more wonderful when you're sharing it with someone you love and love being around. I mean, how much more boring would commuting to work be if Boyfriend weren't there to join me in talking like a 1920s gangster?




So all in all, make it a point to spend your Valentine's Day (and all other days) with someone you love, whether it's your hubs, boyfriend, brother, sister, mother, father, best friend, cousin, or pet goldfish. If it can make commuting to work more enjoyable, it can make everything more enjoyable.



Finally, a special thanks to my photography aficionado, Karen Ho! She captured all of these moments at Boyfriend and I's old high school and made it so much fun. Check out her site, and if you're ever in Texas and are looking for someone awesome to come along and document your adventures, give her a shout! She's amazing!

*just kidding. there's no quiz.

Also also, a giveaway.

23 comments:

  1. Found your blog through Little Girl Big Closet, and I can definitely see why Tara chose you for Valentines Day. You and your BF look like you'd be a riot to hang out with. I really, really dislike drama couples. It's a pet peeve, actually.
    Love your sense of humor, and your friend did an amazing job with the photography :-)

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  2. Oh I love this post! You are hilarious and such a breath of fresh air. And the pic of you standing under the berry tree is just too beautiful.

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  3. I love this Amy!!! You and boyfriend make such an amazing, light-hearted couple, and he clearly has all the same humor and joy in life that you do! You both just radiate positive energy and look like you have so much fun together! Thanks for sharing!!

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  4. Love your photo shoot! I always love your outfit reviews when your BF is in the pics! haha. Hope you both have a great day together! You are such a darling couple.

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  5. Hi Amy. I am a new follower but i must admit that I have been a lurker for a few months. lol However seeing this, I just had to comment. You and your BF are so sweet together and I wish you both a wonderful Valentine's day and a happy future together. I love your style and your sense of humor. Keep doing your thing!

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  6. Love this....all of your pictures turned out so beautiful! I hope you and your man enjoy your Valentine's Day!

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  7. Thank you so much for doing this post, Amy K- like I said, I knew I could expect your trademark nonchalance and good humor, but your post really exceeded my expectations in every way. You and your bf are just "my kinda couple"- laid-back, funny, sweet, and unassuming. I feel very fortunate to be privy to a tiny part of your life through your blog. You rock my face off. And you can pet my hair anytime XD

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  8. You guys are so cute. I'm so glad you two moved from friends to more than because it sounds perfect! :-)

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  9. Amy, this is a wonderful post, beautiful photos, you're a wonderful couple. Thanks for posting.

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  10. Haha y'all are so cute and I must admit I love the picture of BF hurdling... and I loved this post, that 2 people are better together, not that they are halves of a whole. Have a wonderful evening!

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  11. What a beautiful post Amy! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading what you wrote! Thanks for taking the time to share with us. Amy + BF, as well as Tara + Daniel look beautiful and perfect together :)
    Also love your hair and outfit!

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  12. Thank you so much for sharing the sentiments and photos! You're a wonderful gal and your BF and you make such an awesome couple!

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  13. I love this post! You two look so cute together. And I love what you said about love. Great post!
    --Ciara :)

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  14. ACK! Amy, this post was so beautiful and everything you said I agree with...100%. You can see from your pics that you and BF are such an awesome match. What's even better is that you two are on the same page.

    Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

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  15. Amy K, love suits you so well! Boyfriend and you are a beautiful and seriously adorable couple and the images captured of your moments together are wonderful and I loved your words/thoughts on what it means to be a couple and how it's less about completing each other and more about complementing one another.

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  16. Ammmmmmyyyyyy! This was such a sweet post and the photos of you and the BF are so precious. It's easy to see how wild you two are about each other. XOXO

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  17. Amy, these photos are SO great! I just love how playful and happy the two of you look together. Happy Valentine's Day!

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  18. Love this post so much - I have been a longtime reader of yours (and Tara's!) but I had to come out of hiding to comment. The love both couples have for each other in these posts is so evident and I love seeing it - thank you so much for sharing!

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  19. what, no quiz? hehe. I was waiting for that!
    This is a gorgeous set of photos and highlights your love for each other brilliantly. And what i love best is that you two look like you are able to laugh and have fun with each other with ease - a sign that you are both comfortable in each other's company. The third last picture is my fave!

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  20. This is so cute and fun. Great pictures!

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  21. i think i just melted. sweetest photos ever!!!
    you two are gorgeous models:)

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  22. This was beautiful Amy. I saw Tara's post, and it almost brought me to tears! The photos of you two are so pretty =)

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  23. What a great post Amy. It looks like you and boyfriend have so much fun together. You two are so sweet. And p.s I love boyfriend's watch!

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